List of world sports championships

The following is a list of world sports championships, including some sporting events which use a different name with a similar meaning. In some sports, there is a world series, but that term usually has a somewhat different meaning.

Tournaments which are formally defunct or where a further event is not currently planned are marked with a gray background.

Started in 1938 (as IBAF Baseball World Cup); Restarted in 2006; the first two of these modern WBCs (MLB approved and sanctioned by IBAF) were separated by three years (2006, 2009); moved to quadrennially in 2013 and after.

After the 2014 edition, the FIBA Basketball World Cup (but not the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup) will be reset on a new quadrennial cycle. The 2014 (men's) World Cup will be followed by the 2019 World Cup, avoiding conflict with the FIFA World Cup.

In June 2013, World Rugby (then known as the International Rugby Board) announced that it had reconsidered a previous decision to scrap the Rugby World Cup Sevens. After 2013, the next event will be in 2018, and will be held quadrennially afterwards.[5]

Although the International Skating Union did not conduct an official World Short Track Championship until 1981, it began organising international events in 1976. All annual ISU-sanctioned international championships from 1976 to 1980 are now retrospectively recognised as World Championships.

Note: The Davis Cup is not formally a world championship, but is traditionally held as equivalent in status. Only the teams in the World Group actually compete for the Davis Cup proper; other teams play to (eventually) reach the World Group.

Originally held every two years (no championship in 1996). Since 1997, annual except in Winter Olympic years for the top level of competition (champion listed here). Lower levels of the championships used the same schedule until 2014, when they adopted an annual schedule including championships in Olympic years.

Note: Although the International Skating Union did not conduct an official World Short Track Championship until 1981, it began organising international events in 1976. All annual ISU-sanctioned international championships from 1976 to 1980 are now retrospectively recognised as World Championships.

Notes

1 2 3 This differs from the practice in the road races (as well as the 1962–1994 men's World Championship TTT), where teams are based on nationality. The flag in this entry reflects where the team is registered, not necessarily the nationality of its cyclists.

1 2 Equestrian events make no distinction between male and female competitors.

↑ Motorcycle racing events make no distinction between male and female competitors.